Local creches offer to come to the aid of those affected by Ages and Stages closure

Two local crèches have offered to come to the aid of parents affected by the impending closure of the Ages and Stages Early Years Centre in Mullaharlin Park.

It was revealed yesterday that the crèche off the Dublin Road would be closing its doors on Friday August 29^th.

That has sparked fears amongst parents about what will happen with their children after that while staff are also facing an uncertain future regarding their job status.

However, commenting on the Talk of the Town Facebook page this morning, Ciara Byrne of the Pugwash Bay crèche encouraged those affected to get in touch with her.

She said: “Parents and staff please contact me on 0429338055. I am the manager of Pugwash Bay crèche and Montessori based in Dundalk . We may be able to help you guys out.”

Mandy Stevenson from the Redeemer crèche in Ashling Park has also extended an olive branch to affected parents.

She emailed Talk of the Town to say: “I am the chairperson of Redeemer board. I was shocked to hear the news regarding the closure of Ages and Stages creche.

“We are a community creche in Redeemer and are willing to support parents with places for their children. My contact details are 0871351413.”

Claire Woods of Louth Childcare also added: “Support for Parents is available from Louth County Childcare Committee in seeking alternative childcare arrangements. Please contact us on 042 9336364  or visit our website www.louthchildcare.ie.”

Blow for parents, staff and children as local crèche is set to close

Staff, parents and children involved with the local Ages and Stages Early Years Centre were dealt a devastating blow yesterday after it was announced that the crèche would close its doors at the end of this month.

The facility at Mullaharlin Park, off the Dublin Road, has been open for 20 years having initially started out in Dundalk Resource Centre. It only relocated to Mullaharlin Park in November 2008 following funding for a new centre from Pobal, ICTU, NDP, DSP, Louth County Council and the Louth County Childcare Committee.

Catering for children from six months to six years of age, it has been a hugely popular place in recent years. Now though it is set to close its doors from Friday August 29^th.

One worried parent contacted Talk of the Town about Ages and Stages this morning, expressing concern at where she and other parents would find a replacement facility for children at such short notice.

Describing the news as “devastating”, she said: “I picked up my daughter from crèche yesterday evening only to be handed a letter by a young girl in tears informing me the crèche would be closing within two weeks and I would need to make alternative childcare arrangements as soon as possible, it came as such a shock!

“They’re such lovely girls in there and have built up such an amazing bond with my little girl, I don’t know where I’m going to start to find somewhere else as good.

“Apparently this is due to both lack of funding and lack of take up in childcare places. I can’t understand it though as this crèche is heavily funded by Pobal and is in an ideal catchment area located beside DKIT and only 5 minutes from Blackrock and the M1.

“I was so disappointed that given the circumstances management were not available to speak with parents and not on hand to deliver the news in person.
“I’m not sure if anything can be done to save it but I thought even just raising awareness might help.”

As well as the inconvenience and stress caused for parents by the closure, it is believed that more than a dozen staff will be out of jobs if the crèche does close its doors.

Are you affected by the closure or have your children used the facility? Let us know your thoughts!

Plans for 17 new houses in Stamanaran remain on course

The four bed semi-detached homes at Stamanaran

Plans for 17 new homes in the Stamanaran estate on the Old Golf Links Road in Blackrock are still on track after Andrews Construction Limited were granted an extension of planning permission for the development they first sought the go ahead for in 2008.

While the additional homes in the estate were never built due to the downturn in the construction sector, they remain a possibility in the next few years.

The Mullingar-based company have been given the go ahead to remove 36 apartments in three blocks at the estate that were never actually built.

In their place they are proposing 16 new houses, comprising 12 four bed two storey semi-detached dwellings and 4 three bed two storey terraced houses.

They have also been given the go ahead to relocate the proposed crèche in the estate and replace two four bed homes with three two bed homes.

Annagassan man in third place in Yukon Arctic Ultra

Brian Bell

Annagassan man Brian Bell is currently in third place in one of the world’s toughest races, the Yukon Arctic Ultra.

Sponsored by Pugwash Bay – who run childcare facilities in Annagassan, Mornington, Knockbridge and Bay Estate and Lis na Dara in Dundalk – Brian is doing the race to raise money for Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

Brian is taking part in the 300 mile race with temperatures of as low as -31 degrees making things extremely difficult.

As of this morning just seven of the 16 starters were still involved in the race, with Brian holding onto third.

You can follow his progress via the Live Tracker here.

The Yukon Arctic Ultra will follow the Yukon Quest trail, the trail of the world’s toughest Sled Dog Race.

The marathon finishes on Rivendell Farm just off the Takhini River. Setting off from Whitehorse to Braeburn the 300 mile racers, of which Brian is one, will keep on going all the way to Pelly Farm. There they will leave the river to turn around and go back to Pelly Crossing on the farm road. The trail will be marked. However, if there is fresh snow or a lot of wind it will be difficult to find the trail.

As part of his preparations Brian was taught how to deal with a bear should be encounter one and how to cope with frostbite.

People can donate to Brian’s cause and also follow his progress via www.pugwashbay.ie

Canine crèche could be on the way to Dundalk

The new creche is expected to be an extension of Joanne’s current venture, Problem Paws

A canine crèche could be on the way to Dundalk.

The facility, which will look after people’s dogs when they are away or care for them by training or grooming them, is earmarked for a unit in the North Link Business Park on the Coes Road.

The business, which is being proposed by Joanne Byrne, is waiting for planning permission from Dundalk Town Council before it can get the go ahead.

Joanne currently runs Problem Paws and the new venture is expected to be an expansion of this business.

Dundalk ghost estate on the verge of being sold?

The Carlinn Hall site, which went on the market last summer for €2.95m

A Dundalk ghost estate, which is occupied by just two families, looks like it is on the verge of being sold.

The Carlinn Hall estate on the Mullaharlin Road went on the market last July for €2.95m, on the instructions of receiver Declan Taite of RSM Farrell Grant Sparks.

The site, which measures 7.26 hectares (17.93 acres), has been marked as sale agreed though in recent weeks on property website MyHome.ie.

That suggests that a buyer for the estate has been found, with finance just waiting to come into place.

The land for sale includes the first phase of 30 houses, some of them completed and others at various stages of completion, as well as foundations for a further 25 homes.

Cavan-based Keelagh Homes had been developing the site with funding from the EBS before the company was put into receivership. The loans are now the responsibility of NAMA.

The developer had carried out extensive ground works on the site including underground services, estate roads, footpaths and street lighting. Two of the houses are already occupied – well short of the original intention for 203 houses and a crèche.

Alternatively there is planning permission for a 70-bedroom nursing home in place of 21 of the houses. An extension of the planning permission means that it does not expire until June, 2016.

Its close proximity to the Xerox Technology plant, including recently opened PayPal and eBay, also make it attractive to investors.

The Carlinn Hall houses were specially designed to include high energy efficiency through insulation and high-tech heating. A wood burning district heating system is already providing heat to the existing houses.

Source: MyHome.ie